Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-11-29
The psShibitiun Law.
ED. SouTH KENrUCKIAN:

ED. SouTH KENTUoKIAN:
All law-loving and law4abidihg
people must heartily endorse the po-
sition you have taken in appealing
fora faithful execution of the Prohi-
bition law; and yet it seems to me it
will hardly be SO easy 10 reach your
conclusions as to its inefiiciency so
far in the face of the prompt and
complete discharge of duties growing
out of other laws and the splendid
efficiency of officers in gathering
links for chain of evidence that fin
ally encircles criminals and offenders
against common law. If Others are
diligently sought and found and
punished the question naturally rises
in the minds of the people why not
these? Officers should be not only
faithful but capable; and unless the
purposes for which they are selected
for these positions are accomplished,
the people, it seems to me, get but a
poor return for the money expended
to sustain them. If it possible, sup
pose you, that some one is 30 gener-
Gus as to set out free whiskey? Or
are there number of people who are
secretly violating this law2 1t is
plain to great many that whiskey
is to be had in Hopkinsville for love
or money-and the question is which
is it? Where do drinking officers
| iii there are such) get their liquors ?
Is not every officer, whether directly
responsible for the execution of law
or not, bound by his very position to
give a complete moral support to
law-to so conduct his life and affairs
as to inspire respect for the laws OF
his land? 1t is difficult to believe q
man can forget these obligations, for
get his oath of Office literally or the
honor of manhood. Have not officers
detective powers? The law certain
ly should confer upon its officers ef-
ficient power, and besides the people
should extend to them hearty sup
port in the performance of duty. Ii
this already done or is il not? 1t is
certainly true that in all this long,
weary, waiting period but little has
been done; and l ask what will the
effect of all this disregard oflaw have
upon the youths Of our land-upon
the public and private morals of our
country. Are the law-abidlng peo-
pie of our county to be constantly re-
minded of the inefficiency of the
fanatic law" Of its depopulatlne
tendency &c?
Will the time ever come when the
right will be done because it is right
in public as well as in the private
walks of life-when man could not
be induced to remain in a position
the duties of which do not harmonic
with his own views and opinions or
with his sympathies? 1 always feel
sorry for one whose employment is
suddenly ended, especially if wife
and children are dependent on him,
but is it right for the many to suffer
for the few, for the few to thrive in
the wretchedness and misery and
want of the many in neglected homes !?
Men of sincere convictions are al
ways respected, we may not, can not
it seems in many things, think and
believe alike-but in this matter
where the poor and destitute and the
suffering, heart-broken and soul
stricken ones appeal to those who
have pity aud patriotism let us act
unitedly, let us act promptly and
yigorously-let us act not only as
men who have the fear of God before
our eyes but hearts of men in our
bodies and the love of man in our
hearts-though ii costs us something
yea though it costs us much.
FAIR PLAY.